Page 363 - The History of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps 1962–2021

THE HISTORY OF THE ROYAL ARMY VETERINARY CORPS 1962 – 2021
The RAVC manages this through its input and membership of the National Canine Detection Steering Group and, for NATO, through the MWD Expert Panel that sits under the C-IED WG.
Publications and Videos/DVDs for Training and Guidance:
During 1998, a video entitled “Who’s He?”14 was recorded and made available to all MWD holding units to clearly outline the procedures of all aspects of the Inspection and Licensing criteria. Proving the enduring value of this, now vintage video, edited footage from the original is still incorpo- rated into the current DATR training courses.
The video is one of many training aids developed over the years as the Corps progressed towards refining an across the board standard for MWDs.
At the start of the period covered in this volume, the War Office issued the War Dog Training Manual dated March 1962 (WO Code No 9746); which superseded the Training of War Dogs, 1952 (WO Code No 8727). The 1962 publication comprised one hundred and twenty-five pages and eight informative chapters, covering everything from the history of the use of War Dogs, to outlining breeds suitable for the role of War Dog, their Regis- tration, ageing and Identification. It also covered Kennel Management, Training, the Organisation of War Dog Training Units, and the Tactical Employment of War Dogs and Dog Handlers i.e., the selection of personnel. Equipments and Veterinary Notes were included alongside notes on the Transportation of Dogs, including by sea.
It was August 1977, when the Army Veterinary and Remount Services Instructions 1976 were issued by Command of the Defence Council. (Army Code No 61641). The instructions were covered over nine chapters:
Chapter 1 – the Army Veterinary Remount Services – included Organisation and Functions Responsibilities and the duties of the AVRS officer. Chapter 2 – was concerned with records and returns and statics of AVRS.
Chapter 3 – by far the largest chapter covered Military Working Animals, from numbering to procurements, authority to hold animals, transfer, sale for breeding purposes and loss of animals. Chapter 4 – animal ration accounting.
Chapter 5 – veterinary medical treatment and care, including the responsibilities of a CO and restricted use of Neurectomoized Army equines. Chapter 6 – was concerned with contagious diseases – control and eradication.
Chapter 7 – all aspects of meat inspection.
Chapter 8 – covered veterinary material. Chapter 9 – was dedicated to Regimental Mascots, private pets and their treatment.
The Instructions were updated in 1997 but were not formally published as other regular policy directives were issued soon afterwards. These veterinary policies are now enshrined in one document – JSP 950 – and are now widely available on the MoD Intranet for Service personnel to access.
Army Dogs – Their Training, Handling, Use and Administration 1980 (Army Code 71283) was issued in late 1980. The manual contained guidance and instruction of all agencies involved in the training, handling, use deployment and administration of dogs trained by the Army; it became THE training manual for all RAVC Dog Trainers who devoured it from cover-to-cover.
The manual made a meaty read comprising eight chapters:
Chapter 1 – was of general interest but intended to stress the continued need for dogs in present day Service conditions. Further to that, it underlined the need to maintain our expertise
in this cost effective, life and manpower saving mode of operations during peacetime.
Chapter 2 – was deemed essential reading for RAVC personnel and WRAC Kennel Maids. Chapter 3 – targeted potential dog users. Chapter 4 – provided information and guidance to all dog users and, in part, for the instruction of Kennel Maids.
Chapter 5 – gave instructions for user units, all RAVC personnel and WRAC Kennel Maids. Chapter 6 – contained the intrinsic knowledge of all RAVC Dog Trainers used in the instruction of Dog Handlers.
Chapter 7 – was deemed of particular relevance to RAVC Dog Trainers.
Chapter 8 – was for the general guidance of all.
A revised, updated version of the manual was completed by the DAC in 2003 but, sadly, it was never issued.
Numerous videos were produced during in the 1980’s for the RAVC by the Services Sound and Vision Corporation (SSVC), concerning the use of MWAs, such the Training of Army Protection Dogs (SSVC Code C1612); the Use of Dogs in Home Defence (C1737); the Use of AES Dog Teams, which was produced and filmed in Hong Kong at the same time as the Use of the Tracker Dogs. A video was also produced on the use of Pack Transport – the Solution.
14 “Who’s He” Veterinary Services Inspection Team – SSVC Video Code C1906 circa 1995.
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